I don't know if there was an update to this, but I was on the UM wiki and found this little nugget of info:

Updated. Melissa Jo Sermons and Larry Costine were killed by Joe and Danny Cerezo of DeLand Florida. Danny Cerezo was Melissa's ex-boyfriend. According to Joe Cerezo, Melissa is buried somewhere in the Green Swamp of central Florida. Neither of the men were charged in the crime due to the uncooperation of the Polk County State Attorney's office. Joe Cerezo died in November of 2008, but before his death, he confessed to the crime adding that it was his brother Danny who shot the first shot. Danny Cerezo suffers from throat cancer but still goes about his daily business as a forest ranger for the Florida Parks Department.

Don't know if its reliable or not, but thought you guys might find it interesting... ;)

WOW. THanks so much for the update, Mystery Man. Such a sad ending. What source did the website get this information from? Do you think the investigation will be reopened? WHat a shame.

Hmm, I am not so sure how accurate this story is. Deland, Florida is in Volusia County closer to Daytona Beach, Larry Costine and Melissa Jo Sermons both lived near Lakeland, Florida which is about half way in between Tampa and Orlando. Deland is about 80 miles away from the Lakeland area. Plus I was under the impression that Jo's ex boyfriend worked for Earl Costine?

Hmm, I am not so sure how accurate this story is. Deland, Florida is in Volusia County closer to Daytona Beach, Larry Costine and Melissa Jo Sermons both lived near Lakeland, Florida which is about half way in between Tampa and Orlando. Deland is about 80 miles away from the Lakeland area. Plus I was under the impression that Jo's ex boyfriend worked for Earl Costine?

I believe he did. If someone wanted to check the authenticity of this information, I believe Earlow Costine would be the person to contact. I have the address and phone number of his ranch for whoever is brave enough.

In terms of Joseph Corezo he had a rather extensive criminal record in the state of Florida. Joseph Corezo, born August 16th, 1956 had at least 31 felony convictions. He served ten separate stints in the Florida prison system. The longest he ever served though was 3 years.

His first felony arrest was for a burglary that occurred in November of 1979 when Corezo was 23 years old. He was convicted over the years of burglary, trafficking in stolen property, possession of cocaine, grand theft of livestock, grand theft, credit card fraud, uttering a forged instrument, being a repeat offender of driving with a suspended license to the point was a felony, fleeing police on a high speed chase on two occasions and also felony DUI. He was most recently in prison from 2005 to 2008 on a 3 and a half year sentence for fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle, felony repeat offender of driving with a suspended license and felony drunk driving as it was his 3rd drunk driving conviction and in Florida your 3rd drunk driving arrest is a felony. He was released from prison on February 23rd, 2008.

I wonder who would have updated it though. I remember the original members of this site posting the unsolved wiki. Yet, few visitors to that site, for what I remember. From the use of the diction "uncooperative", the member suggests his or her enmity towards how law enforcement handled the case. If the member posts on the wiki, perhaps he or she can come here and discuss with us the case.

PS: Just got done with finals so I can come here more often.

Corezo's convictions in terms of his felony convictions, most came out of his native county of Volusia County. He had felony arrests there in 1979, 1983, 1984, 1988, 1991, 1992, 2001, 2002 and 2005. He also had felony convictions out of Seminole County in 1990, 1992 and 1997. Lake County in 1997 and Flagler County in 1997.

The convictions he had from 1992 the year that Larry Costine was murdered. He was arrested for burglary and grand theft in Seminole County on June 26th, 1992. in fact, he had just been released from prison earlier that year on March 3rd, 1992. Now it is possible under this line of reasoning that Corezo was involved because he had been released from prison on March 3rd and was not arrested again for the charges in Seminole County until June 26th. Thus he was out of custody for almost 4 months and Larry Costine was murdered, well it was presumed he was murdered as it was the last day he was seen alive early in the morning of May 3rd, 1992. But the big thing is, to me the store that Corezo told would have a lot more credibility if his brother Danny Corezo worked at Earl's ranch.

Very interesting. I'm curious where they got their information as well. When I googled Larry Costine's name I found a few websites but none of them mentioned anything about a break in the case. If someone can find an online news article about it, please post.

I wrote that.

My husband, Leslie Todd Jones, was Joe Cerezo's bunkmate in Cross City Correctional. Joe was dying from cirossis of the liver and hernias related to an old gunshot wound. Joe learned that my husband was also from Polk County and there were some cold case cards that had this case on them. Joe told my husband everything. Including the weapon (s) used, the vehicle they used to dispose of the body and who's name it was registered to at the time, the witnesses that saw them all at a bar in Lakeland before the murders (Melissa, Larry, Joe and Danny) and also leaving the scene of the crime. We notified authorities, FDLE and Polk County State Attorney's office in June of 2007. Father's Day. They didn't want to use my husband's testimony saying that even thought Joe told us things only the cops would know, my husband was an inmate and therefore not credible. My husband served his time (23 months) and hasn't ever been in jail again. Joe died. At my outrage of them not pursuing this information, I wrote a story about it that has been published in the Tallahassee Democrat entitled "A Murder In Polk County". I will be glad to answer any questions anyone has.

Very interesting. I'm curious where they got their information as well. When I googled Larry Costine's name I found a few websites but none of them mentioned anything about a break in the case. If someone can find an online news article about it, please post.

You won't find any news articles about a break in the case because I was instructed by FDLE and Polk County State Attorney's Office to destroy any evidence I had on the case after Joe's death. They didn't want the world to know they had screwed up.

Destroying evidence in a capitol murder investigation is against the law. So I didn't. Instead I tape recorded them telling me to do so. Now they want to charge me with a felony for taping them without their knowledge. BUT they can't. I did so under my own state's federal investigators' direction. Plus, the FDLE and the Polk County State Attorney's office had already provided me with phone tapping equipment so I could tape calls from Joe Cerezo and his family.

You can't have it both ways. Either it is legal to tape telephone conversations in Florida or it's not. How can they say when I taped them I was breaking the law but when I taped Joe I wasn't? Not to mention they were the ones committing a felony when they told me to destroy everything and keep it quiet.

Shame I've got a big mouth isn't it?

I want justice for Melissa Jo and her family. Nothing more.

I have questions!

1) Does Melissa's family know you/have you been in touch with them about what you know?

2) Do you have an internet link to your article?

I have questions!

1) Does Melissa's family know you/have you been in touch with them about what you know?

2) Do you have an internet link to your article?


1) Yes. I must have called every June Freeman in Florida before I found her. She has a horse ranch. It was a very tearful phone call. My heart goes out to this woman. The Cerezos were involved in cocaine trafficking. Melissa knew too much and Ms. Freeman told me that one of the last things Melissa told her about the realtionship w/ Danny is that "there are some things her mother was better off not knowing".

It might also interest you to know that Danny's first wife, Dream, has a restraining order against him.


2) The "article" was actually written as a blog. 42 chapters in all. The FDLE used me and my husband as undercover informants while he and Joe served time together. The Tallahassee Democrat has gone to paid only online service but let me see if I can find a link for you.

If I can't I will be glad to send you the story via email.

This won't help you find the whole story but it's a comment a reporter made when I first began the story.

http://www.lakelandlocal.com/2008/10/a-murder-in-polk-county/

No, they want money for anyone to read their stuff online. Wonder if I could start a new thread in here with the story? Do you think that would be ok?

erased.

hi blackparrot. I guess I was right when I said the person who wrote that on the wiki would one day post here.

Hi. Yes and no. I didn't post some of the stuff on Wiki. Someone else did who had talked to me but didn't have all the facts straight. What I wrote was an attempt to correct his errors. I think his name is William Collins and he is a sci fi buff from Tennessee.

BTW I think I have posted in these forums somewhere a long time ago. When I thought they were about to make an arrest. I also spoke with Unsolved Mysteries Staff and had lunch with Sara Hulse, producer of CBS' 48 Hours Mysteries. Here's a copy of the email to / from Unsolved Mysteries staff.

From: unsolvedtips@unsolved.com <unsolvedtips@unsolved.com>
Subject: RE: A message from Norma DePlume arrived
To: norma.deplume@yahoo.com
Date: Monday, March 16, 2009, 5:05 PM

Dear Norma,

Thank you for contacting UNSOLVED MYSTERIES. Unfortunately there is nothing we can do at this time except pass your tip on to the Sheriff's Department.

Sincerely,

The UNSOLVED MYSTERIES Staff


-------- Original Message --------
Subject: RE: A message from Norma DePlume arrived
From: Norma DePlume <norma.deplume@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, March 16, 2009 4:32 am
To: unsolvedtips@unsolved.com

They already know. They too can do nothing without the assistance of the Polk County State Attorney's Office. The Polk SAO did not want to use our testimony because they were afraid certain facts would be made public by a trial. As a result, they allowed two killers their freedom.

Late last year, before I knew Joe was dead, I was contacted by authorities in Florida asking me to destroy all evidence I had in this case. I recorded them. You can listen to a partial recording at www.leslietoddjones.com. It is illegal to destroy evidence in a capital murder case. Shortly before, they asked that I overnight Joe's medical records. They knew he was dying and wanted to destroy any trace that they ever knew the truth, saving their political careers.

This information was first reported to Florida Authorities on Father's Day, 2007.



--- On Fri, 3/13/09, unsolvedtips@unsolved.com <unsolvedtips@unsolved.com> wrote:

From: unsolvedtips@unsolved.com <unsolvedtips@unsolved.com>
Subject: RE: A message from Norma DePlume arrived
To: "Norma DePlume" <norma.deplume@yahoo.com>
Date: Friday, March 13, 2009, 3:58 PM

Dear Viewer,

Thank you for contacting UNSOLVED MYSTERIES. All tips for this story go to the Polk Cty. Sheriff's Department; would you like us to forward your tip to them?

Sincerely,

The UNSOLVED MYSTERIES Staff


-------- Original Message --------
Subject: A message from Norma DePlume arrived
From: Norma DePlume <norma.deplume@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, March 12, 2009 6:29 pm
To: Webmaster <unsolvedtips@unsolved.com>

Dear webmaster,

Norma DePlume has just filled-in the contact form. Please find submitted data below:


date/time: March 12, 2009, 6:29 pm
name: Norma DePlume
email: norma.deplume@yahoo.com
phone:
date: May 1992
victim: Melissa Jo Sermons / Larry Costine
story: Larry Costine / Melissa Jo Sermons
additional: Melissa Jo Sermons was killed by Joseph Cleveland Cerezo and his brother Danny. Danny was jealous of Melissa's relationship with Larry Costine. The two brothers ran into Larry and Melissa at a rodeo that night. Later, after drinking at a bar in downtown Lakeland, Florida, near the Lakeland Civic Center, the two brothers decided to pay Larry and Melissa a visit. They found the two in bed together. While Joe held a gun on the couple, Danny grabbed Larry's gun from the bedside table and fired it at Larry, killing him. They took Melissa as they fled the scene. Witnesses saw them both at the bar, and leaving the scene that night. I am not sure how long Melissa lived but was told her death was "not nice". Melissa's body is buried in the Green Swamp of Central Florida.

Joe Cerezo shared the details of this crime with another inmate while he was incarcerrated at Cross City Correctional Facility in Northern Florida in June of 2007. This other inmate told me, and I passed information along to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement as well as the Polk County Sheriff's Department. The Polk County State Attorney's office refused to bring charges against the two, saying they needed more evidence.

Joe Cerezo died shortly before Thanksgiving in 2008 after only 9 months out of prison. Danny Cerezo is married and lives freely on the old family homestead in DeLand, Florida.

Melissa's body still lies in a cold unmarked grave somewhere in the Florida swampland.

Neither Cerezo brother was ever charged in the crime and due to the fallacies of the Polk County Flordia State Attorney's office and the Polk County Sherriff's Department, this crime will forever remain "unsolved".

Norma DePlume

A Murder In Polk County

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I've even written the governor a 100 times about this:
*
Governor Charlie Crist
Governor Charlie Crist
o Acknowledging receipt of your email 7/12 2:56 PM
o Acknowledging receipt of your email 7/1 3:57 PM
o Acknowledging receipt of your email 5/24 12:52 AM
o Acknowledging receipt of your email 2/23 10:07 AM
o Acknowledging receipt of your email 1/9 4:47 P

He sent me a reply one time:
http://i25.tinypic.com/118g1fo.jpg

Black Parrot, Thank you so much for taking the time
to post here and for working so hard to get the correct
information about this case brought to public attention. :)

Thought yall might would like to see this. This is part of wht the State's Attorney's Office in Polk County Florida wants me to destroy. Perhaps yall can figure out why.

From my notes:

June 17, 2007
Todd calls me in the afternoon to tell me to call Tommy Ray immediately. I am to tell Tommy about a guy that just told Todd that a murder he and his brother committed together is on a deck of cards in Polk County.
I relay the info to Tommy though at the time I didn't know who the victim(s) are.
Todd tells me to go through his things and find the deck of cards he was given in Polk County and go through them. He (Todd) tells me to look for a case in which a man was killed and the girl that was with him was never found. I find the cards, still unwrapped and open them. I go through all the cards until I come across the 8 of clubs. On this card the victim's name was Larry Costine and the missing woman's name was Melissa Jo Sermons.

June 18, 2007

I call Tommy in the morning to let him know I had found the case on the deck of cards and who the victims were.

July 1, 2007

Joe Cerezo states that he and his brother, Danny Cerezo, were orginally suspected in the killing.
He said the cops were real stupid and laughingly said that his brother had taken valium prior to taking a polygraph. That the gun used was a .357 magnum. The cops had come out to take tire impressions but took impressions of a truck that was there, ignoring a car that was also there. Cerezo stated they had used the car which belonged to his nephew when they committed the crime. Cerezo also said cops had taken shoe tennis show impressions at the scene of the crime but Joe told him that wasn't his size.

July 4, 2007
Joe (through Todd) asked me to do him some favors. First he wants to know if the taxes had been paid on his home in Volusia County. Second he wants me to find him the names of three probate lawyers in Volusia County. Third he wants me to track down his ex-wife. An Elaine Diplacido.

July 5, 2007
I give Joe the names of thress lawyers: Ronald Johnson 386-252-3694. Terry Dixon 386-734-2505, and David Russell 386-254-2941. I tell Joe that Elaine Diplacido is still in Deltona Florida but her telephone number and address are un-published. The parcel in question comes up registered to a Rita M Cerezo and the address is 1913 East Highland Park Road, Deltona, FL 32720-2406. The parcel number is 694401000111 or 2052601. The tax bill # is 3053. I speak witha clerk in the Volusia County tax appraisers office named Claudia who tells me the taxes were due on 3/31/2007 in the amount of $3489.36 and have not been paid. That Joe had until 8/31/7 to pay them before he would face another penalty. She also states that it would be at least two years before property would wind up on the auction block. Todd calls to tell me that Joe is pissed about taxes not being paid on property, that he calls his ex boss, Larry Blackwelder, from time to time. That his brother Danny (who is also a forrest ranger) told Larry to tell Joe that the taxes were paid. Danny lied. Joe is pissed. Joe said he'd rather split the property 2 ways instead of 3. Indicating splitting it with a sister who is also incarcerrated. A Judy Smith DC#556093. Joe said he's going to kill his brother.

July 6. 2007.
Relay all this info to Tommy. Also asked Tommy to start checking Joe's phone calls.

July 8, 2007
Joe asked me to find out who is in charge of the health care for the FDC. Says he's suffering from a hernia and wants me tocall Tallahassee and make believe I am his sister-in-law and talk to medical department. He will write down everything he wants me to say and do and he'll tell Todd to tell me the details tomorrow.

July 11, 2007.
Joe asked me to call FDC in Tallahassee and fiind out who is the head of medical. I am supposed to say my name is Yolanda Cerezo and I am Joe's sister-in-law and am calling on his behalf. I am supposed to tell them that Joe has a hernia outside of his abdomen the size of a softball and that he EOS's 2/23/7 and is in dyer need of medical attention. Says he needs an answer by tomorrow night.

I do as Joe had asked only I use my maiden name, Melissa Lane. I speak with a Pilar Tournay, Patrick Brown's assistant. He tells me that Joe will have to sign a medical relase before he can tell me anything about Joe's physical condition. I tell Joe to be sure to sign this release form. He gets called into medical the next day where he is presented with the form and signs it. He tells me to call a Ms Moyer and ask her to send me his medical records. I do and she does.

Todd asks me to go by Office Depot and buy a lease agreement form. I was to mix the form up in between the pages of the medical records and mail them back to Joe. Todd and Joe fill out the form showing Todd as a renter of Joe's home in Volusia County. They work out a rent amount including a deposit of $200 which I am supposed to send to Joe after Todd gets to work release.

July 12, 2007
Todd called and said that he had talked to Joe for abount an hour. That Joe had told him of three other murders. One in Lake Helen, one in Deland and one in Daytona Beach. All three of these victimes were male. Joe did not offer any details, names or timeframes. Todd said that Joe was a straight up killer. That he had been involved in motorcycle gangs and biker groups. All Joe would say was that one was killed over drugs and one guy had a wife who was a stripper at a club called Molly Brown's. The stripper's husband had cancer and they were hoping to get insurance money from her husband's death but the insurance company smelled a rat and they wound up not getting any money anyway. Joe also said that the cops had interviewed him about these homicides and other things while he was incarcerrated".

He also stated that the day of the Costine/Sermons murder, he and his brother had been in Polk County at a "cattle event" or a horse show of some sort. They had seen the victims at this event. Later that night Danny wanted to go find the girl and they went into a bar. This bar had a chain link fence around it near some civic center or something. I relayed the name of this bar over to Tommy on the phone that night but can't remember the name of it now and it is not in my notes because I gave the info directly to Tommy. Todd knows the name .

Joe also said a couple of "odd" things to Todd. HE said he was afraid to go back to that bar or that area because he thinks they were seen around Costine's residence the night of the murders.

July 16, 2007
Todd gets called over a loud speaker to go meet Sherriff's deputy at the gate. He is served in the Corris Lonnell Stephens case stating a court date of 8/13/7. Case #53-2006-CF-007667-01-XX-XX. Todd gets some "heat" from other inmates questioning him as to why he was talking to "the man". Todd makes up a farce about having to go back to Polk County for a restitution hearing. Todd tells me to ask Tommy to get this supeonea "squashed" or at least postponed until he gets to work release where he can testify in civilian clothes making it safer for him.

Todd is afraid that if he gets pulled to Polk County it will mess up the investigation. We needed to go into high gear as our time was running short. Todd comes up with a plan to get Cerezo to voluntarily talk about the case again. He asks me to mail him the cards from Polk County. He says Joe is dying to see the cards and we hoped that seeing the 8 of clubs would make Joe talk again.

I mail the cards to Todd in 11 envelopes conating 5 cards each in random order. The cards were returned marked "contraband" by the institution. I overnight the cards to Tommy. Tommy drives up to Cross City to interview Todd and give him the cards to show to Joe. Tommy was unable to give Todd the cards due to institution rules.

Meanwhile I track down Joe's ex-wife Elaine Diplacido. Her address is 1768 East Chapel Drive in Deltona. I realy this info on to Joe against my better judgement but I was trying to stay on Joe's good side. I asked Joe if her maiden name was Knoblock therefore verifing I had the right person.

Todd tells me to tell Tommy he promises he will help Tommy get this guy.
Todd asks me to keep calling Nicole Alex about the supeonea until I get a concrete answer that Todd will not be pulled. Alex does not take nore return any of my phone calls. Todd tells me to keep calling. "All day" if I have to. He wants me to tell her that putting him in the halls as a Polk County prisoner putes him in extreme danger. I never had the opportunity to tell her this.I still have yet to speak to her or anyone from the SAO with the exception of Zeller who tells me the case will be plead out and there will be no transfer.

July 24, 2007
Press release about new decks of state cards are going to be distributed to all prisons. Todd makes sure that Joe sees this news story. Which Joe does see, 3 times.
LAter that night Joe tells Todd he's worried that these cards are going to be "all over the place". That he and his brother can only get "in trouble for the details". That the "cops are going to be looking to dig up a body all over the place". He said he had done his brother a big favor.

Date unknown:
Pilar Tournay calls me to tell me about Joe's medical condition. He said that Joe's hernia is the least of his problems. He said Joe suffers from psorosis of the liver and would not survive a hernia operation. He added that if he thought Joe had 6 months or less, he would be signning an early release for medical. However, he would feel a lot better about Joe if he was here a year from now. I relay this info on to Tommy and Joe.

July 28, 2007
State cards make it in to prison. Todd grabs a Polk County deck and shows it to show. Joes flips though the cards. When he gets to 8 of clubs, Joe freezes. That was the only card Joe read. HE finishes flipping through the cards and stashes them away in his locker. Later Joe can be seen whispering to Mark Ambrose, a close friend. The two are always together.

Joe asked me to call Larry Blackwelder who's secretary's name is Hika. I am to tell Larry about Joe's medical condition and that he is filing for an emergency ransfer to Tamulka prison. Larry is very friendly on the phone and says he's grateful I called him about Joe's medical situation. He assures me that he will contact Joe's "family" with the info. He also added that they should just let Joe out of jail because he's harmless.

August 7, 2007
Todd gets transfered to Polk County and all hell breaks out.

August 9, 2007
Todd calls from isolation and is very upset. Super pissed at me, Tommy and the SAO for letting him down and putting his life in danger. And we had. He won't talk about Cerezo.

August 20, 2007
Todd gets transferred to work release.

August 23, 2007
Todd tells me a few more things that Joe had told him. Joe said that he had held the two victims at gunpoint and Danny had shot first victim. He said the bar played a more important role tho he won't say what.

August 25, 2007
Joe fakes a heart attack in an attempt to get his transfer granted.

August 26, 2007
I call Tommy and Blackwelder to tell them what happened. I had to leave Blackwelder a voice mail. LAter that day Blackwelder returns the call thanking me for calling him but also said that another person had left him the same message. HE then starts asking way too many questions about Todd. Like who Todd is, when does he get out etc etc. I just thought it was unusual due to the fact that his friend was in such dire medical condition. The fact that he quickly turned the conversation over to Todd threw up a few red flags.

September 12, 2007
Todd asks me to write to Joe to see what's up and see if he needs money in an attempt to open the lines of communication again with Joe. Joe is still expecting the rental deposit so we hoped this would give him an opportunity to talk to me.

September 19, 2007
Called Hika, Blackwelder's secretary and she said Laryy was recovering from eye surgery but would have him call me when he gets back. She said that Joe had called a couple of times and as far as they know he's ok.

September 23, 2007
Recieved a reply from Joe that was not entirely written in his handwriting. Todd thinks Ambrose wrote it as Ambrose does all of Joe's "secretarial" type stuff.

September 30, 2007
Todd tells me abother killer just confessed to him though he won't say who or what until he has a chance to check the information out.

Octover 5, 2007
Mailed Joe a money order for 20 bucks along with a note.

October 16, 2007
Todd calls me to tell me that "killer" he had mentioned earlier was Jerry Louth. This guy says he had shot a guy with a 25 calibur and was arrested but cops had to let him go because they had the wrong gun.

October 29, 2007
Todd calls and tells me to tell Tommy:
Ther's a case on the statewide deck of a dead prostitute. There was a guy in H dorm at cross city nicknamed "Termite". All the guards know him by that name and he repairs raidos for a lot of folks. "Termite" know the details of this homicide. This all came about when Todd was talking to David Morton about the horrors of prison. Morton said that Termite had begged him to make the call for him.

Todd also wants me to ask Tommy to open a 137 file and that he does not want to work with Jerry Hill, that he has a better way.
Todd tells me to call Blackwelder Wednesday and say I'm worried about Joe because I hadn't heard from him and try to find out what's up.
Also tell Tommy that he's been spending time with Irving Hernandez who is married to Carlos Gambino's grandaughter.

October 30, 2007
Todd is telling me that Hernandez's father-in-law is Tommy Gambino and that his brother is coming today (to where Todd works). The Gambino family wants Todd to steal cars and tractor trailor trucks for them. Like Wal-Mart trucks with TV's and electronics and parts etc. He says to be sure to tell Tommy that "he will not **** with the Polk County SAO where the Gambinos are concerned. Only the feds. Polk County SAO will only get him killed".

After Todd was pulled by Polk County State's Attorney's Office with a bogus supeonea, I was told to keep in touch with Joe. Next thing you know I'm being sworn in as an informant and read my Miranda.

They put Todd is Isolation and I received this letter from him at the time.

PRISON INK 8/18/07

I'm sorry that I haven't written these past few months but trying to write from the prison work camp has been very dangerous. Several times I've had other inmates peer over my shoulder to see what I am writing. On one occasion my locker was broken in to and someone went through my paperwork. So PRISON INK was put on hold.

What makes this letter any different you may ask. Well, I'm writing this one from the security of an isolation cell at the Polk County Jail. Yes ---- I'm back in isolation in Polk County. Seems the Polk County Attorney's office needed my assistance in another case. They slapped me with a subpoena several weeks ago at the prison and picked me up on August 7. Unfortunately for me the ADA handling the case, Nicole Alex, and her Jello-Brained boss, Jerry Hill, already plead the case out so I was brought here for no reason.

They apparently also wish to speak with me about the double homicide I just solved. This Polk County murder case is so cold it has icicles on it. I would really like to help them solve the case and bring two murderers to justice but they just can't seem to get their act together. Much like the case of convicted mass murderer Nelson Serrano. That case was bungled by Polk detectives 15 years ago and the police officers that I gave my new information to can't seem to get it together either.

So if you think that the 10 year investigation and prosecution of Serrano was a nightmare, you ain't seen nothin' yet.

It is no wonder so many murders go unsolved in Polk County.

Wake up Jerry Hill
Wake up John Aguero
Wake up FDLE

WAKE THE **** UP!

Leslie Todd Jones

This is a scan of the first letter I ever received from Joe. I blacked out mine and his names because I wanted to post it on a website and at the time I still being told by FDLE that and "arrest was imminent".

http://i27.tinypic.com/2vw8xdy.jpg

I hope there are some real police detectives on this board. The truth is, Joe Cerezo is dead, Danny Cerezo is dying and I've just recently been diagnosed with breast cancer so I may be on my way out too.

It's up to the rest of you to solve this case and bring Melissa Jo (remains) home to her family for a proper Christian burial.

She deserved it.

Jerry Hill and John Aguero, both low lives who are worse men that most of the people they prosecute. I do not live in Polk County or in Florida although I have been to Polk County, Florida before. I will say, those two are as corrupt as they come but the system in Polk County has long been corrupt. A lot of winners there, Jerry Hill, John Aguero, Hardy Pickard who in his 36 years as an ASA railroaded several innocent people and knowingly used false testimony to do it. Also Sheriff Grady Judd, another piece of work.

Plus, John Aguero I have learned was one of 27 people to recently apply for an open Polk County Judgeship. Now granted he would only hear misdemeanor cases in that position. However that position is a well known stepping stone to a circuit judgeship. Governor Crist will get to make the final decision but I would not be surprised if he appointed Aguero to it. Crist has a history of appointing Polk County political hacks to higher courts. He appointed Charles Canady to the Florida Supreme Court, Canady is now Chief Justice. Crist also recently appointed Hill's chief flaky, Chief Assistant State Attorney Wayne Durden to be a Polk County Circuit Court Judge. The culture of corruption in the Polk County Judiciary and law enforcement communities is very deep. Florida as a whole has a serious problem with this but Polk County is easily one of the worst in Florida in terms of corruption. Also out of the 27 people to apply for this latest judgeship, 10 out of the 27 are either current or former Assistant State Attorney's in Polk County, 7 out of the 10 are current State Attorney's, 3 former. Plus, Jerry Hill's own son, a lawyer in private practice also applied for the judgeship.

Plus, John Aguero I have learned was one of 27 people to recently apply for an open Polk County Judgeship. Now granted he would only hear misdemeanor cases in that position. However that position is a well known stepping stone to a circuit judgeship. Governor Crist will get to make the final decision but I would not be surprised if he appointed Aguero to it. Crist has a history of appointing Polk County political hacks to higher courts. He appointed Charles Canady to the Florida Supreme Court, Canady is now Chief Justice. Crist also recently appointed Hill's chief flaky, Chief Assistant State Attorney Wayne Durden to be a Polk County Circuit Court Judge. The culture of corruption in the Polk County Judiciary and law enforcement communities is very deep. Florida as a whole has a serious problem with this but Polk County is easily one of the worst in Florida in terms of corruption. Also out of the 27 people to apply for this latest judgeship, 10 out of the 27 are either current or former Assistant State Attorney's in Polk County, 7 out of the 10 are current State Attorney's, 3 former. Plus, Jerry Hill's own son, a lawyer in private practice also applied for the judgeship.

John Aguero was the ADA in the Nelson Ivan Serrano case and is the one who used Todd's testimony to attain a 4 count death penalty conviction in that case. Cass Castillio is the ADA in the Sermons/Costine case.

In order to understand why they say Todd's testimony in "not credible" in the Sermons/Costine case, you have to look at why they said Todd's testimony WAS credible in the Serrano case. Todd was not allowed to testify to "everything" he knew in the Serrano cae. The prosecution wanted Todd to leave some facts out. They didn't ask him to lie, they just instructed him to "not mention" some things like the fact that Seranno wasn't the only gunman in that quad-druple homicide. In reality he was the look out man. He only shot the last victim, the girl, as she approached the building. The "girl" happened to be an ADA with the Polk County SAO. (that's why she was the only victim in that case shot with two different guns). They couldn't prove a case against both shooters, so they pinned all 4 murders on Serrano.

So now in walks Joe Cerezo. The Polk County SAO was afraid if they put Todd on the stand in this case, that some embarrassing facts would come out about them in the Serrano case. There was a lot of "atta boys" and back slapping in the Serrano trial. It made national attention and was covered by every major network's news magazine shows. So in order to protect that 4 County Death Penalty conviction, they elected to keep Todd quiet about this case.

Apparently they withheld information for the defense in the Serrano case which is also....against the law.

Any lawyers / cops here? They can explain how things are supposed to work.

Plus, John Aguero I have learned was one of 27 people to recently apply for an open Polk County Judgeship. Now granted he would only hear misdemeanor cases in that position. However that position is a well known stepping stone to a circuit judgeship. Governor Crist will get to make the final decision but I would not be surprised if he appointed Aguero to it. Crist has a history of appointing Polk County political hacks to higher courts. He appointed Charles Canady to the Florida Supreme Court, Canady is now Chief Justice. Crist also recently appointed Hill's chief flaky, Chief Assistant State Attorney Wayne Durden to be a Polk County Circuit Court Judge. The culture of corruption in the Polk County Judiciary and law enforcement communities is very deep. Florida as a whole has a serious problem with this but Polk County is easily one of the worst in Florida in terms of corruption. Also out of the 27 people to apply for this latest judgeship, 10 out of the 27 are either current or former Assistant State Attorney's in Polk County, 7 out of the 10 are current State Attorney's, 3 former. Plus, Jerry Hill's own son, a lawyer in private practice also applied for the judgeship.

BINGO! You scored a 100! John Aguero is applying for Judgeship, a position appointed by the governor. It might interest you to know that Aguero's boss, State Attorney Jerry Hill, was on the board of the Violent Crime and Drug Control Council with the FDLE when all of this (Sermons/Costine) case was going on. A position ALSO appointed by the governor. The FDLE is supposed to police the county and town police departments so they had a fox guarding the henhouse so to speak.

I'm willing to gamble that Hill and Crist have "met" (sarcasism) and that's why Crist wouldn't help me get justice for Melissa Jo.

Wow, you basically have the information to solve the Larry Costine case (why would Joe Cerezo lie and make all of that stuff up) but law enforcement and government officials in Polk County are basically deciding that it wouldn't be convenient to solve right now or that it would make them look bad.

I hope you win this battle to get this officially solved and your battle with breast cancer. Thanks for the details about your husband getting this information. It shows what someone in his position has to go through when someone else confesses something like this to him.

Wow, you basically have the information to solve the Larry Costine case (why would Joe Cerezo lie and make all of that stuff up) but law enforcement and government officials in Polk County are basically deciding that it wouldn't be convenient to solve right now or that it would make them look bad.

I hope you win this battle to get this officially solved and your battle with breast cancer. Thanks for the details about your husband getting this information. It shows what someone in his position has to go through when someone else confesses something like this to him.

Thank you so much for your kind words. It's very basic. Melissa Jo Sermons was kidnapped and later killed by the Cerezo brothers. Joe never gave any details about her death but just said, "it wasn't nice". They buried her in the Green Swamp of Florida. A park. Just so happens that Danny Cerezo is (and still is) a Park Ranger. Melissa Jo's mother told me that Joe and Danny had a hunting cabin in the swamp. Investigators haven't ever searched for her as far as I know. I did contact a Forensic Anthropologist in Arizona a while back asking if it was even possible to find her body. Here is his reply:

Re: Fw: RE: need help finding body
...
From:
Michael Warren <mwarren@ufl.edu>
...
View Contact
To: norma.deplume@yahoo.com
Ms. Jones,

I admire your tenacity and fervor, and I certainly agree that Melissa's family deserves to have her remains located and returned home. However, there are several obstacles that make this effort extremely unlikely. The 17-year postmortem interval is too long. The features that enable us to detect relatively new clandestine graves are lost to time. The body will have become skeletonized and will no longer be emitting the human-specific chemicals that enable cadaver dogs or methane detectors to locate remains. The location of the body in a swampy area of Florida makes it difficult to use ground-penetrating radar because of the abundance of subsurface anomalies. Without an eyewitness that can narrow the search to a confined area, there is no method or technology that will help us find Melissa's remains. In these cases, the body is usually found accidentally -- often when new construction is underway, or perhaps some part of the remains have found the surface and someone walking through the area might recognize a human bone. I'm sorry I cannot be of service to you, but I see no way to help you out. Best, Michael.
----------------------------------
Michael Warren, Ph.D., DABFA
Director and Associate Professor
C.A. Pound Human Identification Laboratory
Cancer and Genetics Complex
1376 Mowry Road, G-17
P.O. Box 103615
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL 32611
352-273-8270

On Mon May 11 18:31:08 EDT 2009, Norma DePlume <norma.deplume@yahoo.com> wrote:

>
>
> --- On Mon, 5/11/09, frank.dimodica@phoenix.gov <frank.dimodica@phoenix.gov> wrote:
> From: frank.dimodica@phoenix.gov <frank.dimodica@phoenix.gov>
> Subject: RE: need help finding body
> To: norma.deplume@yahoo.com
> Date: Monday, May 11, 2009, 5:26 PM
>
>
> Message
> Melissa,
> ??
> I would direct you to Doctor Michael Warren, Forensic Anthropologist and Professor at the C.A. Pound Human Identification Lab at University of Florida.?? His e-mail address is mwarren@ufl.edu
> ??
> I hope he can assist you.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Norma DePlume [mailto:norma.deplume@yahoo.com] Sent: Friday, May 08, 2009 8:14 PM
> To: Dimodica, Frank
> Subject: need help finding body
>
>
> Okay, this is a long shot but I've tried everything else so what the hell.
>
> My name is NOT Norma DePlume.?? Norma Deplume is a pen name I adapted after I became involved in an old homicide case and began writing a story about it.
>
> The victim is a young lady named Melissa Jo Sermons (please google her name).
>
> I became privy to a confession from a dying inmate who claimed to be responsible for her death.?? This inmate was validated by law enforcement authorities as being the true perp.
>
> Unfortunately, he died last November before letting us know the exact location of the body.?? But we have a few clues.
>
> He said she was buried (key word is "buried") in the Green Swamp of central Florida.?? He also stated that she was buried on the edge of the park close to the other victim's (Larry Costine ) home.?? I recently spoke with her mother for the first time the other night.?? The mother said the killer and his accomplice used to go hunting in the area at a cabin owned by a friend.
>
> Here's the deal.?? Melissa has been dead 17 years now.?? What are the chances, if any, of anyone ever being able to locate her grave??? Is there any kind of expert of team that specializes in finding old graves??? Florida law enforcement is of no help.?? They think the whole case is hopeless.?? I refuse to give up.
>
> Can you help?
>
> At least answer even if the answer is not what I'm looking for.?? I've grown tired of watching my email and have been at this 2 years.
>
> I just want to be able to bring Melissa Jo home.?? Her momma deserves to be able to bury her baby girl.
>
>
>
>
>
>


And of course we lost that "eye witness" with the death of Joe Cerezo and Danny Cerezo is not cooperating because in doing so, he'd have to admit his guilt.

So Danny Cerezo is the ex-boyfriend mentioned on UM that supposedly had an alibi for the time of the murder? I'm curious if the dead brother supplied him with the alibi....

If this information is accurate, and the authorities are washing their hands of it like Pilate, I only hope Cerezo dies an extremely painful death. I doubt Melissa's remains will ever be found but at least her family now knows what happened to her.

So Danny Cerezo is the ex-boyfriend mentioned on UM that supposedly had an alibi for the time of the murder? I'm curious if the dead brother supplied him with the alibi....

If this information is accurate, and the authorities are washing their hands of it like Pilate, I only hope Cerezo dies an extremely painful death. I doubt Melissa's remains will ever be found but at least her family now knows what happened to her.


Yes Danny Cerezo is the boyfriend mentioned in the show. Melissa's family trains horses and Danny Cerezo has a prize bull named 13 Shades of Pale and they all traveled the Rodeo / Horseshow circuits.

No. Their mother supplied them with that alibi. The cops suspected the Cerezo brothers at that time and visited their home. Joe laughed at their incompetence because for one, they had tire impressions taken at the scene but the cops only looked at the tires on the truck in the driveway, ignoring the car that was also there. Joe said they used his nephew's car that night.

The cops also had shoe impressions but instead of measuring Joe's foot, they just asked him what his shoe size was. Joe lied. They believed him and left.

Both of the Cerezo parents are now dead.

Hi,
I would really like to know where you are getting all of your info from? I have seen many posts from you on this matter.. Are you aware there is a senior and a junior? Thanks

Wow all of that information that TheBlackParrot posted was fascinating and sad, to say the least. Sad because it seems to me like there's enough information that would warrant even a simple investigation or interview with Danny. I would definitely say this case has been solved, now there needs to be justice.

This is a fascinating turn of events. I always wondered about the so-called alibi the ex-boyfriend had. If the TheBlackParrot is right (and I'm not doubting) about the police's investigation, what POOR work, really. Thank you TheBlackParrot for all of this information and your hard work. I'm really sorry about your cancer diagnosis and hope that you are faring well at this time (I know it's been a long time since you've posted). Hopefully someone will act and this case can be solved and justice done. So Jo's mother is alive, I gather? I always felt so bad for her watching the segment and it seems her hunch was absolutely right about the ex-boyfriend.

just watched this case...What a crazy story!!

I think it's really, really unlikely that Melissa killed Larry, although I read once that there was some kind of theory that Melissa's mother was helping her daughter hide out (didn't seem viable to me). I pretty much agree with the scenario Earlow Costine put forth: the then-unnamed boyfriend stalked the two, didn't like what was going on at Larry's trailer, murdered Larry on the spot, and took Melissa to another location to kill her.

First of all none of yall know Danny or knew Joe. They were like night and day. They are two totally different men. Joe was all kinds of things. One thing for sure was he lied so much. Joe always was in trouble. Danny was so different then Joe. Danny is and always will be a great guy. He is a guy that would give you his shirt off his back or give you the last of his money in his pocket. Danny is innocent. Danny and Joe didn't go places together. Danny never dealt with drugs or ran them. His ex-wife was a lier. There are a lot of others to look at for the murder of Larry. He had a lot of people who didn't like him. Jo could of killed Larry and she had plenty of time to disappear. Jo wasn't as sweet as everyone thought that she was. Danny is a Forest Firefighter and he use to work at DOA. Danny Jr. is the one with Rodeo Bulls. I know Danny is innocent. So does his family, friends, and GOD. So for all those that don't know Danny, "I AM OUTRAGED FOR ALL THE LIES THAT YALL POST ON HERE!" Get a Life. Quit Pulling a Great Man's Name Through The Mud!

First of all none of yall know Danny or knew Joe. They were like night and day. They are two totally different men. Joe was all kinds of things. One thing for sure was he lied so much. Joe always was in trouble. Danny was so different then Joe. Danny is and always will be a great guy. He is a guy that would give you his shirt off his back or give you the last of his money in his pocket. Danny is innocent. Danny and Joe didn't go places together. Danny never dealt with drugs or ran them. His ex-wife was a lier. There are a lot of others to look at for the murder of Larry. He had a lot of people who didn't like him. Jo could of killed Larry and she had plenty of time to disappear. Jo wasn't as sweet as everyone thought that she was. Danny is a Forest Firefighter and he use to work at DOA. Danny Jr. is the one with Rodeo Bulls. I know Danny is innocent. So does his family, friends, and GOD. So for all those that don't know Danny, "I AM OUTRAGED FOR ALL THE LIES THAT YALL POST ON HERE!" Get a Life. Quit Pulling a Great Man's Name Through The Mud!

Well!

1. Hello.
2. Who are you and why should we listen to you?
3. It's the internet and speculating is what this board is for. Maybe you shouldn't be on it if you can't handle other people and their opinions. ;)

WHO AM I??you ask. I happen to know both of these men.Danny better than Joe. Danny is a very very gentle man.How dare anyone judge someone that you don't know personally. My late father worked with Danny and knew him very well.I know for a fact that Joe's nephew NEVER owned a car. Joe never owned property in Deltona Florida so get your facts straight!The property that was mentioned was Owned by Joe's parents not Joe and that's a fact.So You asked,"Who am I?' I'm one that has known Danny Cerezo for all my life and his family all my life. Joe wasn't around very much just know he is a liar.

WHO AM I??you ask. I happen to know both of these men.Danny better than Joe. Danny is a very very gentle man.How dare anyone judge someone that you don't know personally. My late father worked with Danny and knew him very well.I know for a fact that Joe's nephew NEVER owned a car. Joe never owned property in Deltona Florida so get your facts straight!The property that was mentioned was Owned by Joe's parents not Joe and that's a fact.So You asked,"Who am I?' I'm one that has known Danny Cerezo for all my life and his family all my life. Joe wasn't around very much just know he is a liar.

For the record this is a message board to discuss UM cases. People are entitled to express their opinion based on the UM segment and they're not going to be harassed for doing so or because you don't happen to agree with them. If you don't like what you're reading on here, I suggest you leave.

For the record this is a message board to discuss UM cases. People are entitled to express their opinion based on the UM segment and they're not going to be harassed for doing so or because you don't happen to agree with them. If you don't like what you're reading on here, I suggest you leave.


Thank you, CD! :clap

But maybe the poster would like to weigh in on this?

http://www.news-journalonline.com/article/20130706/NEWS/307069994/1025?Title=DeLand-man-a-suspect-in-1992-killing-woman-s-disappearance

Seems their good friend was just named a suspect.

Talk is talk. But there was a post on here that said Joe said that Danny took Valium before he took the polygraph, but Know better because he was at a place he wouldn't and didn't because he was with people the night before and the morning that he went and took the polygraph. The person he was with when he took the polygraph took him to the sherff dpartment and Danny wasn't out of his sight. Just people need to get there facts straight. The truth will come out. And Yall will see Danny is innocent. JUST SAYING.

This is my first time on here but I want to thank ya for the kind words for my family and to let everyone know that Melissa's mother just turned 70 and her father past away 2weeks ago. It would be nice to bring Jo's remains home. We miss her every day. I would be like to tell Mr Outraged you know your friend and we know Jo. Thank you Black parrot

Wow...just watched this case again. This is so interesting!

Wow this was a very interesting read. Thank you Black Parrot for all this information. I hope you are okay and doing all right from breast cancer.

I wish OUTRAGED would have commented on Danny's being named a suspect. Here's some more about Danny, from about a year ago. He was indicted for perjury. His ex-wife also accused him of abuse and running her off the road to demand sex. She had an order of protection, but all charges were dropped as part of their divorce.

I can't find anything more recent, or find out what happened since the indictment, but reading this article and another one on the same paper about Danny he doesn't seem exactly like the perfect, gentle man our poster was talking about here.

http://www.theledger.com/article/20140829/news/140829103

Wow, I just read all of the posts by Black Parrot. All I can say is wow. I hope this case gets a fresh set of eyes to look at it in the future.

How did I miss this one? So many great threads that I never got to see.

If everything Black Parrot says is true, it's sickening and makes me feel ashamed when I so vehemently protest that all law enforcement and prosecutors want to make the world a better place. I know I do, but as I've said-- there are bad apples in every field. Prosecution included.

I'm saddened that the County Attorney's Office is not doing everything they can to flesh out these leads. They certainly sound credible to me. Sometimes, you have to take the bull by the horns and say, "I screwed up. I'm sorry it took so long to get you justice." It's better than just sweeping it under the rug.

In any case-- any bets on whether Outraged was 1) Danny's wife or 2) Danny himself?

How did I miss this one? So many great threads that I never got to see.

If everything Black Parrot says is true, it's sickening and makes me feel ashamed when I so vehemently protest that all law enforcement and prosecutors want to make the world a better place. I know I do, but as I've said-- there are bad apples in every field. Prosecution included.

I'm saddened that the County Attorney's Office is not doing everything they can to flesh out these leads. They certainly sound credible to me. Sometimes, you have to take the bull by the horns and say, "I screwed up. I'm sorry it took so long to get you justice." It's better than just sweeping it under the rug.

In any case-- any bets on whether Outraged was 1) Danny's wife or 2) Danny himself?

Agreed. I haven't seen this segment in years. I wish these episodes were readily available.

When I read all of this earlier, my first thoughts were that it was his wife, but it very well could have been him.

The fact that Amazon had no update surprised me as the case just seemed like the kind that would have a conclusion.

I know this thread is old but did anything ever come of this case

I know this thread is old but did anything ever come of this case

Hi! Welcome! :wave: We’re happy to have you here with us!

As to your question... I have no idea. I’m off to Google investigate. :)

As far as I know, there's been no update on this one. I did some googling as well and couldn't find anything recent.